AOTA members receive the biweekly OT Practice Pulse e-newsletter where we share resources and news from AOTA and other sources that directly affect occupational therapy practice—curated just for members! Here on the Checking the Pulse blog, I will share even more relevant and interesting news, videos, blogs, and more.

I read hundreds of articles about health, wellness, and policy every week to find the most engaging and enlightening content for you. Blog readers can stay in the know, go beyond the news, and find out how the latest health news affect occupational therapy.

AOTA's Checking the Pulse blog is written by digital editor Stephanie Yamkovenko who reads hundreds of health and policy articles weekly to find the most engaging and enlightening content. Go beyond the news and learn how it affects OT.

OT Month: When The "Mondays" Mean You Need More Sleep

Have a case of the Mondays today? It happens to the best of us. When those Mondays stem from not getting enough sleep, you will probably notice that it affects how productive you are at work.

Did you know that the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has called sleep insufficiency a public health crisis because of its negative economic consequences due to lower productivity, increased absenteeism, and decreased job performance? Not getting enough sleep is a much bigger problem than a bad case of the Mondays.

Because sleep has such a direct impact on how you perform your activities during the day (including your job), it should be no surprise that occupational therapy practitioners can help you with this very important area of occupation. People have issues with sleep for many reasons—sleep disorders, diseases or conditions interfering with sleep, effects of medication or drugs—and an occupational therapist can evaluate all of the areas in your life that might be affecting your sleep dysfunction.

Occupational therapy helps with sleep promotion by: educating clients on sleep terminology and misconceptions; preventing secondary conditions that are making it difficult to get a good night’s sleep; establishing predictable routines; addressing sensory issues; modifying the noise, light, temperature, bedding, and technology used while in bed; and much more.

I have a case of the Mondays 7 days a week! Between my four kids, their school, activities, my school, and housework, I don't get hardly enough sleep! I am lucky if I am in bed by one and sleep in until 7! Guess I am not alone!